Discovery!!...Don Airey's K2

Ever come across an album recorded nearly 20 years ago(1988) - featuring some of your favourite musicians - that you've never even heard of? (The album, that is.....not the musicians ). Well, that's what just happened to me!

A few days ago, I stumbled across a mention of K2-Tales of Triumph And Tragedy, a solo effort by keyboard maestro Don Airey. The album features Gary Moore on guitar, Cozy Powell on drums, and a variety of vocalists including Chris Thompson and Colin Blunstone. I didn't have any idea that this album even existed, and I thought I was pretty familiar with the work of Moore and of Blunstone - especially around about that particular era. A quick Google search led me to Don Airey's website.

I received my copy of the CD today, and its terrific. It's a concept album based on the stories of the men who have attempted to climb K2. Similar in style to the Alan Parsons Project, though without Andrew Powell's orchestration. Moore (as usual) plays some mean licks alongside his former Colosseum II stablemate Airey. It's certainly not prog/fusion in the CII mold, so don't go in expecting that sort of stuff.

All in all, a great album. Probably (for my money) a good 3.8 stars on the PA scale. For more info, including a full track breakdown, go to www.donairey.com . You can buy the a signed copy (!!) of the album straight from Don's website too. I don't think there are any samples on the website, but I can't say I've checked it out fully yet.

Anyone else heard the album, or have a similar story/discovery to tell us about?

I was aware of the album, but I've never heard it - which is a pity, because there are some of my all-time favourite musicians on it. I used to worship Cozy Powell back in the '80s (I saw him at Donington with Whitesnake in '83... what a show!), and everybody here knows by now that I love Gary Moore (no, not in that sense...). Don Airey is one hell of a keyboard player too: it's just a pity that he had the ungrateful task to step in Jon Lord's shoes... so that he'll never really get the recognition he deserves.

I agree with you, James. I saw Airey with DP in Rome in 2003 (missed them this year), and his performance was excellent throughout. DP's latest album is also outstanding, the title-track being a particular favourite of mine.

I have always liked Don Airey since his Colosseum II days.His keyboard "duels" with guitar Uber-God Gary Moore on such tracks as "Fighting Talk" and "Wardance" are superlative.
I was familiar with his work with the then ailing Rainbow and then the stuff with Cozy Powell on Over The Top.Wonderful contribution to all those albums.
I kinda lost touch with the guy after that until he contributed to some of the Gary Moore Blues albums in the 90s,he remains one of my favourite keybaord players to this day.

Anyone unfamiliar with his work should check out the streaming player for Colosseum II here on the archives and select Fighting Talk:
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=785

salmacis wrote: Don Airey has done a great job replacing Jon Lord, imo. I think he's brought an energy that was missing in the DP camp since 'Perfect Strangers'- 'Bananas' was the best album I'd heard of DP's since that one, so something inspired them. 'Rapture...' was similarly excellent after it grew on me.

I agree completely!
Though Jon Lord is my favourite keyboard player, Don Airey is very very very very gifted!!!! An excellent changing of the guards ("replacement" is such a bitter word in this case...)

Great idea Ghost Rider, I fully support this, I own the LP Over The Top since it was released (1979 by Ariola), what a line-up: Cozy Powell, Jack Bruce, Gary Moore, Bernie Marsden, Max Middleton and Dave Clempson, time to add it to Prog Archives  !

Having been an admirer of Don Airey for many years through numerous bands he joined, ultimately the well-deserved position with Deep Purple, i jumped at the chance to "meet" him at a music trade show in London a few months ago. He gave a demonstration on the Hammond Organ, which was absolutely brilliant, and Don was very unassuming and friendly, a very unlikely rock star! if you passed him in the street you wouldn't notice him, and he said joining Deep Purple was a dream come true. I enjoyed his work on the new Purple album "Rapture of the Deep".

Edited by mystic fred - June 29 2006 at 04:34

Erik, let's not get angry about that... there are worse things in life!  You could take up again the Cozy Powell thread in the Collabs section on Band suggestions, and see if we can get a clear response on this issue. I really would like to see those albums here.... and I'm  listening to Colosseum II just now!

As there is already a "Various Genres" section (which, if I remember correctly, includes the likes of Osibisa),  I think we could put Cozy's output there, instead of creating another section which would mean very much the same. Does anyone agree with me?

There's nothing wrong with it, and you spelt it perfectly - I just think, from a merely linguistic point of view, that "Various Genres" and "Miscellaneous" mean the same thing (sorry for being pedantic, but that's my trade!). BTW, you'll find the "Various Genres" section at the end of the Subgenre list, on the Home Page.